High-tension switch



Feb. 27, 1934.. c, G. KOPFATZ HIGH TENSION SWITCH- Original Filed May29, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1934- c. G. KOPPITZ HIGH TENSION SWITCHOriginal Filed May 29, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet Pll Fb. 27, 1934. v Q opprrz1,949,019

HIGH TENSION SWITCH Original Filed May 29, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Feb. 27, 1934 fiarl G. hoppitt, Greenshurg, Pa... ignor toRailway d Industrial Engineering Company, Greensburg, Pm, a corporationoi Pennsylvania Application May 29, 11929, Serial No. 367,015 Renewed.ll'anuary it, 1933 315 tlliaims. (Cl. W8)

This invention relates to a high tension, high contact pressure switchof the general type described in my Patent No. 1,758,751, granted May13, 1930.

As described in my prior application, the switch contacts comprise aswitch jaw and a contact element which is of flattened construction, andthe operating mechanism is designed to introduce the element within thejaw and thereafter to rotate the element to wedge the same within thejaw.

in accordance with the present invention, both the jaw and the contactelement are movably supported, the construction and arrangement of thesupporting and operating elements oi the switch mechanism being suchthat the final closing movement of the switch. causes relative rotationof the contact element and switch jaw.

An object of the invention is to provide a switch construction in whicha switch jaw and a contact element are carried by two pivoted arms, thelength and angular movement of the arms being such that the relativeangular movement of the arms at the end of the closing movement of theswitch causes the element to rotate into wedging position transverselyof the switch jaw. More specifically, an object is to provide a switchin which two pivoted arms form a modified toggle linkage during thefinal closing movement of the switch, the centralpivot of the linkagebeing provided by a switch jaw and a contact element carried at the endsof the respective arms.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification when taken with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the connections between the rotating pillarsof the switch,

Fig. 3 is a top view of the switch,

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary side elevation of the switch,

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram,

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a horizontal break switch, and

. Fig. '7 is a top view of the same.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 identifies the support or base upon whichare mounted the two sets of insulator pillars, the inner pillar 2 ofeach set being mounted for axial rotation and the outer pillars 3 beingfixed with respect to the support. The pillars of each set areinterconnected by plates, 4 and 5, and each fixed pillar 3 carries anend plate 6 which provides a bearing for its associated rotating pillar2 and carries a lug 'Z for pivotally supporting one ol the arms 8, 9 ofthe switch. The arm 8 terminates in a V shaped switch jaw comprising asoft metal contact block, 10 and a stifi spring ll disposed parallel tothe inner surface of the block 11, while the arm 9 terminates in anenlarged head or contact element 12.

The pivot pins 13 which support arms 8, 9 on lugs '3' are parallel toeach other and horizontal. Each rotary insulator pillar 2 carries acrank arm it which is connected through a link 15 with the adjacentswitch arm, the pivotal connections at each end of the links 15 beingformed by univer sal joints 16. One of the rotary pillars 2 has anoperating arm 17 fixed thereto, and the pillars are connected forsimultaneous rotary movement, in opposite directions, by cranks 18 andlink 19.

Referring now to Fig. 5, which shows a simple form of jaw formed bybending the ends A of a metal strap at right angles to the central orbase portion B, the legends applied to the view identify axes and planeswhich will be used in describing the operation of switch structuresembodying the invention. The basal plane is normalto the longitudinalaxis of the jaw; the medial plane is that plane through the longitudinalaxis which is parallel to the jaws A, and the transverse plane passesthrough the longitudinal axis and is normal to the jaws A. The medialand transverse axes are determined by the intersection with the basalplane of the medial and transverse planes, respectively.

The operaton of the switch will be apparent from the drawings. When theinsulator pillars 2 are rotated to-turn the crank arms 14 towards eachother, the thrust exerted through links 15 upon the switch arms 8, 9turns the arms downwards and towards each other. When the arms havemoved somewhat past their intermediate positions which are shown insolid lines in Fig.

4, the flattened contact element 12 enters the open end of the switchjaw. As the effective overall length of the switch arms is in excess ofthe distance between pivot pins 13, this initial engagement takes placewhen the arms are spaced from their final positions by substantialangular displacements, and the plane of the maximum dimension of thecontact element 12 is inclined to the medial and transverse planes ofthe jaw. The further rotation of the insulator pillars 2 causes relativetranslatory movement of the jaw and contact element along a lineapproximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the jaw, and relativerotation of. the parts about an axis parallel to the medial axis of thejaw.

The normal width of the: jaw opening and the width of the contactelement are so related that the element enters freely within the jaw andis tightly wedged between the spring 11 and contact block 10 when theswitch is in fully closed position. The spring 11 is formed of stainlesssteel or the like and theistrength of the spring determines the currentcarrying capacity of the switch.

The contact element 12 is formed of a relatively hard metal, such asphosphor or manganese bronze, and the relative movement of the element12, and the copper contact block 10 provides a self-cleaning contactbetween switch contacts.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the invention may be embodied in a switch ofthe horizontal break type. In this construction, the switch arms 20, 21are rigidly connected to the metal caps 22of insulator pillars 23 whichare rotatably mounted on a suitable base 24. One of the pillars isprovided'with an operating arm 25 and the pillars are connected by link26 and arms 27 for simul taneous angular movement in oppositedirections. Switch arm 20 terminates in a soft copper contact block 28and steel spring 29 which form the switch jaw, and switch arm 21terminates in an enlarged head 30 of relatively hard metal which formsthe flattened contact element.

Each metal cap 22 carries an overhanging lug 31 which cooperates with aboss (not shown) on the upper surface of the cap to provide a bearingfor the line terminal 32, the terminal being electrically connected tothe adjacent switch arm by a flexible jumper 33.

It will be apparent that the mechanism for supporting and operating theswitch arms may take various forms without departing from the spirit ofmy invention as set-forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a high contact pressure switch, a pair of switch arms, meanspivotally supporting said arms for rotation about spaced parallel axes,a

switch jaw comprising a contact block of soft copper and a spring armparallel to the contact face thereof, and a flattened contact elementformed of a metal harder than said block, said jaw and said elementbeing carried by the respective arms, and means for rotating said armsto-move said element into said jaw, the length of said arms being suchthat said element is introduced into said jaw prior to the finalmovement of said arms and inclined to the basal and transverse planes ofsaid jaw, whereby the final movement of said arms effects relativerotation of said element within said jaw.

2. In ahigh-contact pressure switch, resilient switch jaws comprisingmembers whose opposed faces are normally substantially parallel, acontact element having a transverse dimension greater than the normalopening between said switch jaws, means mounting said jaws and saidelement for simultaneous. angular movement about spaced, parallel axes,said jaws and said element being so positioned that said element entersfreel within the jaws, and operating means for oving said element tobring said element into said jaws and for effecting relative angularmovement of said jaws and said element to position the-greatesttransverse dimension of said element normal to the medial plane of saidaws.

3. In a high contact pressure switch, resilient switch jaws comprisingmembers whose opposed faces are normally substantially parallel, acontact element having a transverse dimension greater. than the normalopening betweensaid jaws, means mounting said jaws and said element forrelative movement about separate axes, said element being so positionedthat it enters freely within said jaws, and operating means for movingsaid jaws to position said element in said jaws and operative to movesaid element after it enters said jaws to position the greatesttransverse dimension of said element perpendicular to the medial planeof said jaws.

4. In a switch, a pair of spaced insulator pillars,

a switch blade carried by each of said pillars, one blade terminating ina contact jaw and the other blade terminating in a transversely en--vlarged contact head, and operating means for '0 effecting angularmovement of both blades to po sition the same in substantially coaxialrelation and with said contact head within said jaw at the end of theclosing movement of said switch,

the width of said contact head being so related .5 to the transversewidth of said jaws that said head enters freely withinsa-id jaw but isthereafter tightly wedged in the same by the continued angular movementof said blades.

5. In a high pressure contact switch, a pair of switch arms mounted forrotation about a pair of parallel axes, a flattened-contact elementcarried atthe end of one arm, a resilient switch jaw comprising a pairof jaw members having opposing surfaces that normally are substantially108 parallel, the normal opening between said jaw members beingsubstantially less than the width of said flattened contact element,said switch jaw being mounted on the other of said switch arms with themedial axis of the jaw parallel 110 to the axis about which said armsrotate, and operating means for rotating said first arm to position saidflattened contact element within said jaw and with the plane of itsmajor transverse dimension inclined to the basal plane of the'jaw and tothereafter rotate both of said arms to effect relative angular movementof said contact element and jaw, thereby to position said contactelement with the plane of its greatest transverse dimension transverselyof the said Jaw.

6. In a switch, a pair of spaced insulator pillars,

a jaw element and a flattened contact element carried by the respectivepillars, said contact element having a width greater than the normalopening of said jaw element and operating means for effecting angularmovement of both pillars to position said contact element freely withinsaid jaw element and thereafter to produce relative rotation of saidelements to position said con- 180 tact element transversely of said jawelement.

'7. In a switch, resilient switch jaws comprising members whose opposedfaces are normally substantially parallel, a contact element having atransverse dimension greater than the normal opening between said jaws,insulator means supporting said jaws and said element for angularmovement about separate axes, and operating means for effecting relativeangular movement of said jaw and element to position said element freelywithin said jaws and thereafter to effect relative rotation of said jawsand element to position the greatest transverse dimension of saidelement substantially perpendicular to the medial plane'of said jaws.

8. In a switch, a pair of insulators mounted for angular movement aboutparallel axes. a resilient switch jaw element carried by one insulator,a contact element carried by the second insulator and having an enlargedhead of greater 5o weenie width than the normal opening of said jaw,said elements being so positioned that the enlarged head of said contactelement may enter freely within said jaw element, and operating meansfor effecting angular movement of at least one of said insulators toposition said enlarged head within said jaw element and for thereaftereffecting angular movement of at least that insulator carrying the jawelement to produce relative rotation of said enlarged head and said jawelement to wedge said enlarged head in said jaw element.

9. In a switch, a pair of insulators mounted for angular movement aboutparallel axes, a resilient switch jaw element carried by one insulator,a contact element carried by the second insulator and having an enlargedhead of greater width than the normal opening of said jaw, said elementsbeing so positioned that the enlarged head of said contact element mayenter freely within said jaw element, and operating means for effectingangular movement of at least one of said insulators to position saidenlarged head within said jaw element and for thereafter efi'ectingangular movement of atleast that insulator carrying the contact elementto produce relative rotation of said enlarged head and said jaw elementto wedge said enlarged head in said jaw element 10. An electric switchcomprising a jaw element, a contact element including a flattened headhaving a width greater than the normal opening of the jaw element, meanssupporting each of said elements for movement, and operat-- ing meansfor effecting movement of at least said contact element to position thehead of said contactelement freely within said jaw element and forthereafter moving said jaw element angularly with respect to saidcontact element to wedge said enlarged head in said jaw element.

11. An electric switch comprising a jaw element, a contact elementincluding a flattened head having a width greater than the normalopening of the jaw element, and means operative by a continuous movementthereof to move the head of the contact element freely into the jawelement and thereafter to move said jaw element angularly with respectto said contact element to wedge said enlarged head in said jaw element.

' 12. An electric switch of the high pressure contact type, said switchcomprising a jaw element and a flattened contact element, meanssupporting each element for pivotal movement upon spaced axes which areeach parallel to the medial axis of the jaw element and means operativeby a continuous movement thereof to produce relative movement of saidelements to introduce said flattened contact element freely within saidjaw element and thereafter to effect pivotal movement of said jawelement to wedge said flattened contact element transversely-of the jawelement.

13. An electric switch comprising a jaw element, a flattened contactelement, insulator columns supporting each of said elements for angularmovement about spaced axes which are each parallel to the medial axis ofsaid jaw element, and means operative by a continuous movement thereofto efiect angular movement of both elements to introduce said contactelement freely within said jaw element and thereafter to effect relativerotation of the said elements to wedge said contact element transverselyof said jaw element.

14. In a high pressure contact switch, a switch jaw, means including aninsulator column supporting said jaw for pivotal movement, a flattenedcontact element having a transverse dimension greater than the normalopening of said jaw, means including an insulator column supporting saidcontact element for movement towards and away from said switch jaw, saidcontact element being so positioned on its said supporting means that itenters freely within said jaw prior to the final switch-closing movementof at least one of said supporting means, and operating means foractuating the supporting means of said contact element to move thecontact element into the switch jaw and thereafter to actuate the,

other supporting means to produce pivotal movement of said switch jaw towedge said contact element transversely of said switch jaw.

15. In a high pressure contact switch, a resilient switch jaw comprisingmembers whose opposed faces are normally substantially parallel, aflattened contact element having a transverse dimension greater than thenormal opening be-' tween the members of said jaw, means mounting saidjaw forpivotal movement about an axis parallel to the medial axis of thejaw, means supporting said contact element for translatory movement intoand away from said jaw, said contact element being so positioned on saidsupporting means that it enters freely within the said membersof the jawprior to the final switchclosing movement of said supporting means, andoperating means for moving said supporting means to position saidcontact element within said jaw and thereafter to continue the movementof said supporting means with a simultaneous pivotal movement of saidjaw, thereby to efiect relative rotation of said contact element andswitch jaw to position said contact element transversely of the saidjaw.

- CARL G. KOPPITZ.

